No lack of Mourning Doves here in our backyard (suburban D.C.)  I'm seeing 
8 -10 most days.  I think the hunting season may be underway.  In years 
past, I seem to see more around our yard during the hunting season, like 
they know to avoid the countryside.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

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From: "Karen Harris" <>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 7:32 AM
To: <>
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Not Song Sparrows but Mourning Doves

> People keep asking me about the lack of Mourning Doves.
>
> Karen Harris
> Talbot County, MD
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Sep 24, 2010, at 12:40 AM, Jim Moore <> wrote:
>
> Hi guys,
>
> I saw a Song Sparrow a week ago and it also occurred to me how few I had 
> seen recently.  EBird data confirms a decline in these and the other 
> species Bob mentions.  Average birds-per-list data for the state of 
> Maryland the last two months are as follows:
>
> 2009--Aug--Sep
>
> SOSP:  .51, .49
> NOMO:  .69, .79
> CAWR:  .94, 1.77
>
> 2010--Aug--Sep
>
> SOSP: .24, .16
> NOMO: .55, .55
> CAWR:  .70, .98
>
> Song Sparrow declines are the most dramatic -- declining by more than 50% 
> compared to last year.  On the bright side though August and September are 
> the months of the year with lowest Song Sparrow numbers even in a normal 
> year.  Things will pick up of course in October when migrants add to the 
> totals.
>
> Good birding!
> Jim Moore
> Rockville, Maryland
> PLEASE REPORT YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS to http://ebird.org/
>
>
>
> On 9/23/2010 10:51 PM, Bob Ringler wrote:
> Dan,
>   I believe that last winter's heavy snows are at least partly to blame 
> for
> the lack of Song Sparrows. Like the Carolina Wrens it seems that many
> resident Song Sparrows may also have perished. Another factor may have 
> been
> the hot, dry summer which adversely affected breeding success this year 
> and
> discouraged multiple broods. I also believe that Mockingbirds have been
> similarly affected. On the Coastal Plain it may not be as apparent as it 
> is
> here in the Piedmont. There are probably other factors as well. The local
> Song Sparrows are quiet now and northern migrants have not yet arrived.
>
> On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM, Dan Haas<>  wrote:
>
> Anyone else noticing a complete lack of Song Sparrows these days?  I
> can see that there have been a few recent sightings in our region, but
> the numbers seem noticeable and low. I recall that they are not as
> abundant this time if year, but...
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Good Birding,
>
> Dan Haas
> West Annapolis, MD
> 
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